Antarctica, the Earth’s coldest and most inhospitable continent, has long been considered one of the last pristine wildernesses on our planet. A land of ice and snow, where temperatures can plummet to bone-chilling extremes, it has been considered an unlikely candidate for hosting life, let alone lush vegetation. However, recent scientific research has unveiled a surprising and concerning transformation in this remote corner of the world. Flowers are blooming in Antarctica, a phenomenon that has garnered attention not only for its intrinsic beauty but also for the profound implications it holds for the global climate crisis.

The two flowering plants in question, the Antarctic Pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis) and the Antarctic Hair Grass (Deschampsia antarctica), native to Antarctica, are thriving like never before. Their growth rates have skyrocketed in recent years, and the primary driver behind this botanical revolution is climate change. 

Read more: earth.org

Photo: earth.org